The following players did not reach 50% and therefore are released from their rosters. In many cases, these players were also finished in real life after 1988. Players who will be available in the 1989 or later rookie drafts are noted below:
 
ALMA:
Ted Simmons (done)
Steve Henderson (done)
Sal Campusano (returns to rookie draft in 1990)
Nick Capra (returns in 1991 but does not play enough for rookie specs; done)
Jeff Bittiger (available in 1989 rookie draft)
 
BALTIMORE:
Steve Peters (done)
 
BEARD:
Larry Parrish (done)
Tom Brookens (available in rookie draft)
 
BROOKLYN:
Mike Laga (available in rookie draft)
Rob Nelson (available in rookie draft)
Mark Huismann (available in rookie draft)
 
CAROLINA:
Tom Nieto (available in rookie draft)
Rafael Santana (returns in 1990 but not enough to meet rookie standards; done)
Steve Ellsworth (done)
 
CLEVELAND:
Rusty Tillman (done)
 
COLORADO
Domingo Ramos (available in rookie draft)
Denny Gonzalez (available in rookie draft)
Bill Almon (done)
Ed Romero (available in rookie draft)
Wade Rowden (done)
Paul Zuvella (available in rookie draft)
Fred Lynn (available in rookie draft)
Urbano Lugo (available in rookie draft)
 
CONEY ISLAND
Vicente Palacios (returns in 1990 rookie draft)
Terry Taylor (done)
Carl Willis (returns in 1991 rookie draft)
 
FRANKFORT
 
Orestes Destrade (returns in 1993 expansion draft)
Gary Varsho (available in rookie draft)
Randy Bockus (available in rookie draft)
 
HOUSTON
Dwight Lowry (done)
Larry Herndon (done)
Candy Sierra (done)
 
JUPITER
Mike Diaz (done)
Russ Morman (available in rookie draft)
Danny Clay (done)
 
KENESAW
Louie Meadows (available in rookie draft)
 
KITSILANO
Rafael Belliard (available in rookie draft)
Jeff Brantley (available in rookie draft)
 
LAFAYETTE
Mark Bailey (returns in 1992 rookie draft)
Mike Fitzgerald (done)
Greg Gross (available in rookie draft)
Tom Lawless (available in rookie draft)
Larry Sheets (available in rookie draft)
Pete Stanicek (done)
 
LAKE SUPERIOR
Al Pedrique (available in rookie draft)
Jim Adduci (available in rookie draft)
 
NASHVILLE
Scott McGregor (done)
 
POCONO
Graig Nettles (done)
Jerry Mumphrey (done)
 
QUIGLEY
Greg Brock (available in rookie draft)
Bobby Meacham (done)
Keith Miller (available in rookie draft)
Kevin Williams (available in rookie draft)
Jose Gonzalez (available in rookie draft)
John Davis (available in rookie draft)
Dwayne Henry (available in rookie draft)
Jim Winn (done)
 
RED BLUFF
Damaso Garcia (available in rookie draft)
Jeff Stone (available in rookie draft)
Donnie Moore (done)
 
WABASH
Leo Garcia (done)